Warning: this review contains spoilers for previous books in the series!

I finished this just as quickly as [b: The Ghost Brigades|239399|The Ghost Brigades (Old Man's War, #2)|John Scalzi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403295928s/239399.jpg|18279845]. It's the third in the series, and John Perry, the hero of [b: Old Mens War|17262511|Last of the Blue and Gray Old Men, Stolen Glory and the Mystery that Outlived the Civil War|Richard A. Serrano|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367256556s/17262511.jpg|23859317] is back. Along with Jane Sagan the clone of his dead wife, and Zoe the daughter of the dead Charles Boutin who nearly managed to have three alien races start a war against humanity. Together with Zoe's two Obin bodyguards they live a happy life on a colony named Huckleberry. (Did I mention I love Scalzi's naming schemes?)

Of course a happy life not a good story makes, so of course they will leave the place to found a new colony along with about 2000 other humans. Roanoake. Except this book is the perfect example of the so-called try-fail cycle (writer's will know what I mean): everything that can does go wrong. More than any of the previous books this one is about interstellar politics. And more politics. Anytime someone finds a solution to a problem ... boom the problem grows a new tentacle that tries to strangle the plot from behind.

If you want to take this book as social commentary on our own politics ... it's probably quite fitting. I wouldn't say everything is quite the same as portrayed in the book but I can make out a few parallels especially in the way the Colonial Union deals with Earth and its own citizens.

I particularly enjoyed the final resolution John thinks up. You really have to read that book. If only for that. And despite the heavy politics I find this a light, and quick read.